Sources: MLB will void Seong-Min Kim’s contract

The Korean Baseball Organization’s protest over the Orioles’ signing of Seong-Min Kim will lead to Major League Baseball voiding the contract of the 17-year-old Korean pitcher, according to industry sources.

I’m still trying to receive confirmation from the Orioles.

I’m told that the Orioles could be facing some sort of punishment, and they will have to restart the negotiating process at a later date if they still want to bring Kim into the organization.

The Orioles signed Kim to a minor league contract on Jan. 30 that reportedly included a $550,000 bonus. The KBO protested the lack of protocol, saying the Orioles failed to first contact MLB, which was then to contact the KBO commissioner to get clearance for negotiations to begin.

More fallout came when Orioles scouts were banned from the country by the Korean Baseball Association.

Last week, executive vice president Dan Duquette issued the following statement regarding the controversy:

“On behalf of the Orioles organization, I offer a sincere apology to the Korea Baseball Organization and the Korea Baseball Association for the club’s unintentional breach of protocol in failing to tender a status check in the process of signing Seong-Min Kim. The Orioles respect Major League Baseball’s recruiting policies and the governing bodies and people that contribute to the growth of baseball around the world.”